Adjustable shoe tree



June l5, 1943. A. J. PALARDY y 2,322,053

ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Filed oct. 21, 1942 Patented June l5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE ADJUSTABLE snor TREE l Application October 21, 1942, Serial No. 462,795

2 Claims.

My present invention is a novel and improved construction of an adjustable shoe tree, and a novel process of making the same.

My invention is particularly applicable to a construction utilizing a wooden threaded dowelr vwhich the threaded dowel is tted.

' My invention is particularly advantageous in connection with the ventilated shoe tree of the type shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,196,924,

issued April 9, 1940, wherein longitudinal slots are formed in the forepart for ventilation, thus cutting away a portion of the forepart and reducing to a considerable extent the wooden parts into which the threaded dowel may be fitted.

It is also an important feature of the present invention to eliminate, as far as possible, the use of metal and to produce a shoe tree construction l wherein the entire tree and connecting parts are all made of wood, thus complying with the present requirement of war priorities on the conservation of steel.

In carrying out my invention, by my present novel process I provide a heel part and a forepart of suitable contour and make smooth boredv openings in alignment in each portion from the dividing line of cut. These bored openings are smooth and unthreaded on the interior and. of suitable diameter to receive the threaded dowel which is pivotally attached to one part by a pin and threaded into the opposite part. In order to eiect the threading action, I bore at right angles to the dowel-receiving, longitudinally bored recess a small opening into which I drive a pin, which may be of wood, having intermediate its end portions a wedge-shaped contour adapted to t and register with the pitch and threaded part of the dowel, whereby a rotation of the threaded dowel, with its other end secured to the opposite part. will secure a longitudinal adpart, such boring actiondamaged the toe because of the diameter of the bore when a wooden dowel was utilized, and this necessitated the plugging of the toe portion of the bore and a returning or nishing of the entire toe. I have eliminated these diiculties by my present invention and method.

Further improvements, advantages, and details will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferrred embodiment of my present novel method and adjustable shoe tree construction:

Fig. 1 is a plan View showing a forepart and a heel part of a shoe tree with an adjustable wood` en dowel uniting same;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View cn the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged prospective view of a thread-engaging and locking pin iitted at righ', angles to the longitudinally bored opening in which the threaded dowel moves.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Y.

Referring to the drawing, l illustrates a heel part of a typical shoe tree, Ahaving a 1handle 2, and with a forepart 3 of suitable form and contour to cooperate therewith, the heel part having a line of cut 5 adjacent the corresponding line of cut 6 on the forepart.

I have herein illustrated a ventilated shoe tree of the type of my said prior patent, vas such a construction with longitudinal Ventilating slots is most difficult to make without weakening and damaging the same and which, by my present construction, can be advantageously 'and economically manufactured. u

In this particular form, therefore, I show in the drawing longitudinal Ventilating slots 'l' and 3, and additional such Ventilating slots can be made if desired, thus dividing the main part of the forepart 3 into a middle section lli and wing sections H and i2 respectivelyjv These slots 'I and 8 may be made either before or after the boring of the longitudinal recess to-receive the wooden dowel pin I5. In either case, a smooth longitudinally bored recess i6 is formed approximately in the longitudinal center of the forepart 3 and a corresponding short bored opening ll in the heel portion I thru the face the latter being also reamed out or enlarged to permit a pivoting of the heel part on, the dowel l5. The wooden dowel l5 is of substantial diameter which, of course, is essential where wood is utilized as the connecting and hinge member between the heel part and forepart and as a short unthreaded heel or end I3 fitting into the bored opening I'I in the heel part and thru which heel part is bored at right angles, a passage I9 extending also thru the end I8 of the dowel and into which is driven a wooden pin 20, which constitutes a pivot on which the heel part I may turn on the heel section I8 of the dowel I5. This pin 20 thus locks the end of the dowel in the heel part I and simultaneously acts as a pivot.

In the forepart, I also bore at right angles to the longitudinal recess I6 an opening 2I which intersects the longitudinal recess I6 a depth sufiicient to enable a pin 22 fitting in said opening to engage the threads on the dowel I5. For this purpose, also, I form the intermediate part of the pin 22 with bevelled faces 23 and 24 meeting at an angle 25 and corresponding roughly to the pitch and size of the threads on the dowel I5. Thus, the threaded portion of the dowel I5, when the heel and forepart are relatively rotated, will act to lengthen or shorten the distance between the forepart and heel part as the threaded dowel I5 traverses the recess I6 by the engagement of the dowel threads with the bevelled faces of the pin 22. The pivot pin 2i) in the heel part and the thread-engaging pin 22 in the forepart may be held in position by coating the same with glue, shellac, or the like, before being driven into position.

Thus I am enabled by the simple process to provide a shoe tree with adjustable capacity, without damaging the wood in the forepart, and suitable for utilization in a ventilated forepart construction and entirely without metal parts, and furthermore, by a shortening and simplifying of the boring actions, wherein I eliminate entirely the necessity of providing a tapped or threaded interior recess in the forepart or heel part to which the threaded portion of the adjusting screw is to be moved.

As but slight pressure is required in a shoe tree and the pins I9 and 22 are of substantial diameter and of strong rock maple, locust, or oak, ample strength is provided for the service to which an adjustable shoe tree is ordinarily involved.

I claim:

1. A shoe tree of the kind described, having a wooden forepart and a heel part united by a wooden threaded dowel, one end of said dowel being pivotally secured to one of said last parts, and the opposite portion of the dowel adapted to move longitudinally inwardly and outwardly of a smooth opening in thc opposite last part, the threads of such dowel engaging a pin tted into thread-engaging position in said smooth opening, whereby relative rotation of said last parts will adjust the same toward and from each other by rotation of the threaded dowel against said pin.

2. A shoe tree of the kind described, having a wooden forepart and a heel part united by a wooden threaded dowel, one end of said dowel being pivotally secured to one of said last parts, and the opposite portion of the dowel adapted to move longitudinally inwardly and outwardly of a smooth opening in the opposite last part, the threads of such dowel engaging a pin tted into thread-engaging position in said smooth opening, said pin having an intermediate portion formed to fit the pitch of the threads in said dowel, whereby relative rotation of said last parts will adjust the same toward and from each other by rotation of the threaded dowel against said pin.

ANDREW J. PALARDY.` 

